A Planet Around Proxima Centauri

This is a computer simulation of a hypothetical planet around the nearest star Proxima Centauri. The animation also shows how the star moves due to the gravitational interaction with the planet. The radial velocity method is used to detect planets by observing this small stellar motion. The Pale Red Dot is a new project currently searching for planets around Proxima Centauri. Check the Habitable Exoplanets Catalog for known potentially habitable worlds.

The simulation was done with PHL's SER software where stellar and planetary parameters were entered assuming an Earth-size planet in the habitable zone. The color of the star was slightly adjusted (it does not look too red in reality). The planet was enlarged fifty times and the star two times to be visible at this scale (from 0.27 AU from the star). Orbital speed and star motion was exaggerated for clarity.